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McIlhenny CompanyDeeply Involved In OurLocal and Global Communities

TABASCO® Flavor Of The Family Cookbook

In 2006, McIlhenny Company launched its first-ever “Flavor of the Family Recipe Contest.” With the goal in mind to preserve and record the rich culinary treasures of the African-American community, this spicy competition was held among six African-American churches in Louisiana who are partners in the TABASCO® Church Outreach Program.

Specially designed contest fliers and entry forms, along with a promotional spot played during church services and recipe collection liaisons at every church, were the tools used to drum up the recipes.

Members of Life Center Cathedral (New Orleans), Household of Faith Family Worship Church International (New Orleans), Mount Hermon Baptist Church (Avondale), From My Heart To Yours Family Worship Center (LaPlace), Greater St. Mark Baptist Church (Walker) and Praise Temple Full Gospel Baptist Church (Shreveport) searched cupboards, made phone calls and took to their own kitchens to prepare recipes that were passed on to them from their great-grandmothers, aunts, godmothers and moms. They even included a few new dishes, all spiced with one of the six Pepper Sauce flavors from TABASCO® brand.

Participants competed for cash prizes and submitted entries in hopes of nabbing the Grand Prize of having their recipe featured in the first-ever TABASCO® African-American cookbook. Contest participants cooked up everything from red beans and smothered pork chops to rice dressing and crawfish pasta. One entrant even spiced up her sore throat remedy with TABASCO®!

The result is a one-of-a-kind compilation of generations of African American-inspired recipes that are sure to spice up kitchens around the globe. The cookbooks, funded by McIlhenny Company, are being donated to the participating churches for distribution to their memberships and other organizations.